I imagine you're right. I am not interested in American sports, so probably never see them in the right cultural context for America. I always presumed sites l

I imagine you're right. I am not interested in American sports, so probably never see them in the right cultural context for America. I always presumed sites like Cracked and Huffington post were transmitting the US view to me: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/dallas-mavericks-dancers-cheerleaders-uniforms-outfits_n_2100468.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/dallas-mavericks-da... http://www.cracked.com/funny-2072-cheerleaders/ http://www.cracked.com/funny-2072-cheerleaders/ Certainly in the UK it seems to me that there's a general presumption it's sexualised. For example the tabloids: http://metro.co.uk/2011/03/30/crystal-palace-fans-defend-sexy-cheerleaders-as-a-good-luck-charm-647565/ http://metro.co.uk/2011/03/30/crystal-palace-fans-defend-sex... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/hottest-and-sexiest-athletes-fans-and-cheerleaders-1201517 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/hottest... and even the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/mar/15/ussport.stevenwells http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/mar/15/ussport.stevenwe... As a single extra data point, I asked my wife about it and obvious sexuality was the first thing she mentioned. I think this may be a peculiarly British view, though. By the way, I don't think I'm a prude either. If girls over the age of consent (16 in the UK) want to be sexual I don't have a problem with it. My surprise is a cultural one that it could be viewed any other way.